MCC Adams Grant Task Force

Update September 7, 2006

Spring 2006 Visitor Survey

A draft report comparing the Summer 2005 and the Spring 2006 Visitor Surveys has been submitted and will be reviewed by the Survey Subcommittee. The subcommittee may be meeting on Thursday, September 14, 2006. UMass/Dartmouth will make a presentation to the MCC task force at our next meeting on September 27, 2006.

UMass is also scheduling the Fall 2006 survey.

Streetscape & Virtual Cultural Center

A proposed approach and schedule has been submitted by ICON with Charrette #1 to be held in the beginning of October. The Streetscape subcommittee will be meeting on Monday, September 11, 2006 at 10:00 am to review and discuss. The outline below is excerpted from John Shield’s e-mail in response to some of my questions.

Charrette #1 would focus on two subtasks:

1) Presentation, review and comment of ICON’s findings and recommendations to date- set forth in a 'Context Plan'.

2) Input from the public with regard to issues and opportunities, and initial thoughts (pro and con) of their incorporation into the 'Context Plan'... Depending on the size of the audience, we may want breakout groups to discuss key aspects in more detail... The break out groups should be led by a pre-designated shareholder... findings would be summarized at the end of the Charrette by a spokesperson designated by the group.

The Context Plan would strive to set the stage (provide the Context) for the Virtual Cultural Center along Commercial Street:

a) It would identify initial thoughts about:

-Story Themes- such categories as The Land, The Sea, Social Structure over time, The Arts (Visual, performing, writing), the Deeds of native sons and daughters... all should be explored.

-Settings- Based on conversations, ICON would come armed with a preliminary list of potential sites. We will also have a thing or two to say about the surplus public buildings.

-Media- Dennis and Carlo will bring along examples of what is being done in other places as well as 'Provincetown-specific' thoughts...

-Signage- Richard will have an outline of a way finding system onto and along Commercial Street.

-Streetscape- John Ryther will have developed a preliminary palette of paving, and other improvements for Commercial Street and key cross streets and public landings.

b) It would examine, in very cursory fashion, our understanding of the physical relationship among the various destination sites, (e.g. the monument, the Art Association museum, Town Hall and possible surplus buildings). It would also look at other sites in town which could support the Provincetown Virtual Cultural Center initiative (MacMillan Pier, satellite parking, gateway venues such as Boston's Long Wharf or the Cape Cod Visitor Center, etc. . . The result would be a very broad brush Urban Design sketch that also incorporate ICON’s initial thoughts regarding two other burning issues in town, one: finding affordable housing site(s) and two: the best location of the proposed Transportation Center. Simple transportation loops (inter-city bus, jitney shuttle, bike paths and pedestrian paths) will be sketched out. We assume that much of this will be politely shelved, but we will render an opinion on the strength of comments we have received thus far.

In order to get all of this done before Charrette #1, one or more of us may spend a day in Ptown walking the site and talking with key individuals.

We believe that we can undertake this quick start due to the fact that I was able to meet with so many of the key stakeholders when I was there in July. I think it's important to jump in hard now. The advantage is that if we are more or less on the money, we gain momentum and can get a bit further into concept design refinement.

Packaging

A packaging subcommittee meeting is tentatively scheduled for Friday, September 15, 2006. Specific direction, specific strategies need to be outlined to be brought back to the MCC task force for consideration. Currently, there are mixed messages – are we going to be broad-based and/or are we going to be event specific, such as the Monument’s anniversary?

2007 Application

The Intent to Apply form has been submitted. A draft application is due 10/13/06. In order to prepare, I will be scheduling an application subcommittee meeting for the week of September 18^th – I need volunteers!! A proposed concept for the application will be brought to the MCC task force meeting on 9/27 for recommendation to the Board of Selectmen for their 10/10/06 meeting. Final application is due on 11/17/06.

MCC Adams grant activities funded in part by the Massachusetts Cultural Council Adams grant and in part by the Cape Cod Economic Development Council, a part of Barnstable County.